Jersey Village City Council clarifies its stance on code enforcement

JERSEY VILLAGECouncil clarifies stance on codes

Published 5:30 am, Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Following a miscommunication last month between elected officials and city staff, the Jersey Village City Council clarified its intent for stricter code enforcement at its April meeting.

"At the March City Council meeting, the Council and I had some strong words that we wanted the city to more strictly enforce the codes," said Mayor Russell Hamley. "This was (after) numerous months of listening to citizens complain about code enforcement. The city staff took those words to mean start writing more tickets and do it at night and on the weekends since some of the code violations only occur at night (such as parking of illegal vehicles).

"I think what the Council really meant to say was to enforce the codes more strictly for repetitive and flagrant violators.

"The Council was more succinct with its words this month, and I suspect that code enforcement will continue starting with the most flagrant issues first."

Hamley said he would take responsibility for the miscommunication rather than laying the blame on City Manager Mike Castro. He also said the Council decided not to dismiss the tickets given out over the last two months and that residents will need to take care of them with the city's court system.

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Previously the group has worked on and completed a city-wide parks survey that addressed how residents would like to see existing park space improved on and where they would like to see new green space development